Update 2: Use of heavy fuel oil at Delimara to continue; PN says decision uncovers PM's deceit

(Adds PN, Government statements) The use of heavy fuel oil at the Delimara power station extension was approved by Mepa this afternoon with 10 votes in favour and Nationalist MP Ryan Callus and NGO representative Alex Vella voting against. Former Minister George Pullicino, who was among the public, said that had the board been concerned about the use of heavy fuel oil, it would not be considering the extension of the permit. Mr Callus said he was extremely disappointed that a decision had been made to present the decision for public consultation without the board being informed. A massive argument broke out when Mr Pullicino said that someone had taken a decision to extend the permit without the board being consulted or its chairman informed. “Who took the decision behind your back, was it the Prime Minister, Konrad Mizzi, Mepa’s CEO...? he asked The PL’s representative on the board, Joe Sammut, told Mr Pullicino that if he knew who, he had to say it. A shouting match ensued. Mr Pullicino insisted that while it was now OK to extend the use of heavy oil, it had before the election been dubbed as a cancer factory. He said he had gone through all the data for a number of elements...